Portable handles for boats



April 9, 1968 E. w. ALLEN 3,377,095

I PORTABLE HANDLES FOR BOATS Filed Aug. 31, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ElmerW. Allen I N VEN TOR.

A ril 9, 1968 E. w. ALLEN 3,377,095

' PORTABLE HANDLES FOR BOATS Filed Aug. 31, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2

Elmer. H. I Allen INVENTOR.

United States Patent Office 3377,95 Patented Apr. 9, 1938 3,377,095PORTABLE HANDLES FOR BOATS Elmer W. Allen, Hines, Minn. 56647 Filed Aug.31, 1966, Ser. No. 576,392 Claims. (Cl. 294-19) ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE An elongated supporting arm structure bifurcated at one endand adapted to embracingly receive one end of a boat between thefurcations thereof with the one end of the boat supported from thebifurcated end of the supporting arm structure, the other end portion ofthe support arm structure being adapted to project outwardly of theterminal end of said one end of said boat and including a free endportion adapted to be manually engaged and lifted by a person andincluding downwardly facing load distributing pad means positionable onthe shoulders of such a person for carrying the adjacent end of the boatwhile portaging the same.

This invention relates to a novel and useful assembly to assist inportaging a boat and more specifically to an assembly adapted to beutilized in pairs, one assembly for supporting and carrying each end ofan associated boat.

The assembly of the instant invention has been primarily designed foruse in conjunction with canoes and includes generally coplanar divergentarms for embracing therebetween opposite side portions of the bow of acanoe. However, the included angle defined by the divergent arms of theassembly may be readily varied so as to adapt the arms to embracinglyreceive therebetween different boat bow configurations. Still further,although the assembly of the instant invention is adapted to be utilizedin pairs of assemblies attached to opposite ends of a double-endedcanoe, it is to be noted that a single assembly of the instant inventioncan be readily utilized in conjunction with substantially any bowconstruction of a boat which is to be carried while other means may beutilized to carry the stern portions of the boat if it is not of thedouble-ended type adapted to have another assembly of the instantinvention operatively associated therewith.

The main object of this invention is to provide a lifting assembly toassist in portaging a boat such as a canoe and enabling a canoe to bemore readily carried by two persons while'being portaged.

Another object of this invention is to provide a lifting assembly whichmay be utilized in conjunction with any bow-like end of a boat to assistin lifting that end of the boat.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a liftingassembly that may be readily disassembled and stored in a compact state.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein isto provide a lifting assembly in accordance with the preceding objectswhich will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simpleconstruction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will beeconomically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble-free inoperation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts through, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of the bow portion of a canoeshown with one of the lifting assemblies of the instant inventionoperatively associated therewith and a person carrying the bow of thecanoe by means of the lifting assembly illustrated in phantom lines;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the assemblageillustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the assembly of the instant inventionshown in a knocked down compact state in readiness to be stored;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary top plan view similar to that of FIGURE 1illustrating a slightly modified form of lifting assembly adapted to beutilized in conjunction with a slightly modified canoe bow structure;and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view takensubstantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 55 of FIGURE4 and on somewhat of an enlarged scale.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10generally designates a canoe including a bow structure referred to ingeneral by the reference numeral 12 and inner and outer gunwales 14 and16 extending along the upper edges of the opposite sides 18 and 20 ofthe canoe 10. Further, the canoe 10 additionally includes a bracing deckpanel 22 secured between the forward extremities of the sides 18 and 20.

The lifting assembly of the instant invention is generally designated bythe reference numeral 24 and includes a pair of generally coplanardivergent arms 26 and 28 having inverted J-shaped hooks orchannel-defining members 30 removably secured to the terminal ends ofthe divergent end portions thereof by means of suitable fasteners 32. Inaddition, the arms 26 and 28 include an ulated terminal end portions 34and 38, respectively, on the ends thereof remote from the hooks 3t andthe arms 26 and 28 are longitudinally slotted centrally intermediatetheir opposite ends as at 40 and 42 and the opposite ends of anelongated strap or web 44 are secured in the slots 45) and 42. Stillfurther, the end portions of the arms 26 and 28' adjacent the terminalend portions 34 and 38 are provided with longitudinally spaced apertures48 for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The lifting assembly 24 further includes a lifting arm portion generallyreferred to by the reference numeral 50 including a handgrip 52 on oneterminal end portion and having a pair of socket-defining sleeve members54 and 56 secured to opposite sides of and remote from the handgrip 52.The sleeve members 54 and 56 are apertured as at 58 and are adapted tohave the angulated terminal end portions 34 and 38 removably telescopedthereinto, suitable locking pins 60 being supported from the lifting armportion 50 adjacent the sleeve members 54 and 56 by means of a flexibletethering member 62 and being receivable through the apertures 58 formedin the sleeve members 54 and 56 and suitable apertures 64 providedtherefor in the free ends of the terminal end portions 34 and 38.

The lifting arm portion 50 includes a bowed portion 66 intermediate itsopposite ends which opens downwardly and has a soft resilient pad member68 secured therein for padding the shoulder 70 of a person 72 having thebowed portion 66 resting upon his shoulder.

Accordingly, it may be seen from FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings thatthe assembly 24 may be operatively connected to the bow of the canoe 10with the strap passing beneath the adjacent end of the canoe, the bow ofthe canoe received between the arms 26 and 28, and the members 30engaged over the outer gunwales 16 to thereby support the bow forcarrying purposes.

With attention now directed more specific-ally to FIG- URES 4 and 5 ofthe drawings there will be seen a modified form of canoe generallyreferred to by the reference numeral 10' and whose reinforcing deckpanel 22' is provided with a centrally located aperture 23. The assembly3 -J of the instant invention utilized in conjunction with the canoe isgenerally designated by the reference numeral 24 and comprises asubstantial duplicate of the assembly 24 except that the strap 44 hasbeen removed and suitable L-shaped and apertured mounting brackets 76are secured to the arms 26 and 28' by means of suitable fasteners 78secured through apertures 48' corresponding to the apertures 48 and across rod 80 has its opposite ends secured through the upper endportions of the brackets 76 by means of the fasteners 82 and has an eyemember 84 slidably mounted thereon including a threaded shank portion 86which projects through the aperture 23 and is secured through the latterby means of a suitable wing nut 88.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An assembly to assist in portaging a boat, said assembly beinggenerally horizontally disposed and including a pair of generallycoplanar divergent arms joined together at adjacent ends and anelongated lifting arm portion extending away from the juncture betweensaid adjacent ends in a direction generally opposite to the direction inwhich said arms diverge, said arms being adapted to embrace therebetweenthe bow of a boat with said arms extending along the opposite sides ofsaid boat, first means carried by the free end portions of said armsadapted to engage adjacent opposite side portions of said boat toprevent downward movement of said free ends relative to said boat, andsecond means carried by said assembly intermediate said free endportions and the juncture between said adjacent ends and adapted foroperative connection with the adjacent bow portions of said boat toprevent downward movement of said adjacent bow portions relative to saidassembly.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first means define downwardlyopening channels adapted to embracingly receive therein the adjacentgunw'ale portions of said boat.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said second means comprises alifting strap of considerably greater length than the distance betweenand having its opposite ends secured to the adjacent portions of saidarms adapted to cradle said bow therein.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said second means comprises arigid brace extending between said arms intermediate said first meansand said juncture and adapted to overlie and be removably secured tosaid bow.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the end of said lifting armportion adjacent said juncture defines a pair of opposite side socketsextending longitudinally of said lifting arm portion and open at theirends adjacent the divergent ends of said arms, the ends of said armsremote from said divergent ends thereof being removably received in saidsockets.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said arms include angulated endportions defining the ends thereof received in said sockets.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein the end of said lifting armportion adjacent said juncture defines a pair of opposite side socketsextending longitudinally of said lifting arm portion and open at theirends adjacent the divergent ends of said arms, the ends of said armsremote from said divergent ends thereof being removably received in saidsockets, said first means defining downwardly opening channels adaptedto embracingly receive therein the adjacent gunwale portions of saidboat.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein the end of said lifting armportion adjacent said juncture defines a pair of opposite side socketsextending longitudinally of said lifting arm portion and open at theirends adjacent the divergent ends of said arms, the ends of said armsremote from said divergent ends thereof being removably received in saidsockets, said second means comprising a lifting strap of considerablygreater length than the distance between and having its opposite endssecured to the adjacent portions of said arms adapted to cradle said bowtherein.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein the end of said lifting armportion adjacent said juncture defines a pair of opposite side socketsextending longitudinally of said lifting arm portion and open at theirends adjacent the divergent ends of said arms, the ends of said armsremote from said divergent ends thereof being removably received in saidsockets, said second means comprising a rigid brace extending betweensaid arms intermediate said first means and said juncture and adapted tooverlie and be removably secured to said how.

10. In combination with a boat, an assembly to assist in portaging saidboat, said assembly including a pair of generally parallel arm meansspaced apart at at least one pair of corresponding ends extending alongand adapted to embracingly receive one end portion of a boattherebetween, said one pair of ends including first means adapted toengage adjacent opposite side portions of said boat to prevent downwardmovement of said one pair of ends relative to said boat, second meanscarried by said arm means and spaced toward the other pair ofcorresponding ends thereof from said one pair of ends and operativelyconnected with an adjacent terminal end portion of said one end of saidboat to prevent downward movement of said adjacent terminal end portionrelative to said second means, said assembly further including a singleelongated lifting arm extending outwardly from said other air ofcorresponding ends of said arm means in a direction away from said onepair of ends thereof beyond said terminal end portion of said boat, saidlifting arm including a free end portion adapted to be manually engagedand lifted by a person and including downwardly facing load distributingpad means positionable on the shoulder of said person for carrying saidone end portion of said boat while portaging the same, said free endportion being disposed at an elevation spaced above the center ofgravity of said boat when the latter is horizontally disposed, wherebyrotation of said boat about its longitudinal axis will be resisted bygravity.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,109,520 9/1914 Flower.2,375,754 5/1945 Ballingher. 2,451,236 10/ 1948 Oeth. 2,761,576 9/1956Sanborn.

FOREIGN PATENTS 930,414 8/1947 France.

EDWARD A. SROKA, Primary Examiner.

R. D. GUIOD, Assistant Examiner,

